A Family’s Desire to Give Back in their Local Communities
The Salvation Army is deeply saddened by the recent news of Bill Hatswell’s passing. He was a self-made entrepreneur who was committed to providing exceptional service, had a relentless drive for improvement and innovation, and was a pioneer in the auto body industry. Bill was passionate about giving back and supporting his community, something that has been passed onto his children as they carry on his legacy with that same mission in mind.
What started with owning a gas station and doing car repairs on the side eventually led Bill Hatswell to move from Australia to Canada and opening Craftsman Collision in 1977. Today, with the help of his sons, Greg (President, Real Estate) and Rick (President, Operations) they have grown The Craftsman Group of Companies to include several companies specializing in different areas. Among them, Craftsman Collision is the largest independent family-owned collision repair business in Western Canada with nearly 50 locations.
One mission that Bill, original Founder and CEO, always wanted to pursue was to give back to the community and it became a natural fit when they found that The Salvation Army was located in the same cities as them. The company appreciated the impact they saw from every dollar donated, thanks in part to the low administrative cost. “We know that more money goes right back to the people in the communities through The Salvation Army,” explains Rick Hatswell.
This year, Craftsman Collision is returning as the Presenting Sponsor for The Salvation Army’s 24th Annual Hope in the City Breakfast for the third time. The event is not only the largest fundraising event for The Salvation Army but also provides an opportunity for the public to learn more about the programs and services offered, as well as the impact they have in people’s lives. “It brings in business leaders, like me, who didn’t know about everything The Salvation Army does. Each year they have guest speakers and feature real stories from clients. I think the more people who attend and learn about the impact The Salvation Army has, the more people will be inspired to support and give back,” said Rick.
Sponsorship of this event provides a meaningful and strategic opportunity for companies to be aligned with the largest non-governmental provider of social services in the country. “Everyone knows Sally Ann, to be part of that is really big for our company that we can be associated with such a large, charitable organization that is helping so many people,” shared Rick.
Throughout their history Craftsman Collision has also given back to their communities in various ways, from their Make a Dent Food Drive, to sponsoring the purchase of refrigerated trucks for food banks, and getting their staff involved by collecting donations at their annual Christmas parties.
Craftsman Collision has also dedicated funds for each of their locations to be able to give back locally. “Each one of our stores has a budget that they can spend in their community,” says Rick, “we’re looking at kids hockey teams, karate tournaments, we really do try to focus on our communities in each area that we’re in.”
“We are not just a body shop, we’re here to support the local community,” is how Rick explains the impact he likes to see Craftsman Collision continue to have wherever they’re located. “It was always engrained in the company that my father really wanted to make sure he supported the communities, and I love continuing that trend in honour of my dad.”
Learn more about becoming a sponsor of the Hope in the City Breakfast presented by Craftsman Collision at hopeinthecity.ca/vancouver